QUINCY, Mass. - The Norwich University women's basketball team dropped their season-opener on Saturday afternoon, falling to Eastern Nazarene College, 70-54, in non-conference action at the Lahue Athletic Center.
The Cadets wasted no time asserting themselves offensively, as a pair of freebies from
Kiley O'Brien (Kingston, Mass.) gave Norwich its first points of the season. Norwich continued to build momentum, as a mix of baskets from
Haley Brewster (Virginia Beach, Va.),
Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.), and
Erika Thomas (Burlington, N.C.) granted the Cadets a game-high lead of four points on three different occasions.
The Lions promptly responded, evaporating Norwich's lead behind a pair of long bombs. An
Eleonore Collins (Waterville, N.Y.) lay-in at the buzzer kept Norwich within two, 17-15, at the end of the first frame.
Norwich stayed within striking distance for the first half of the second quarter, before an 8-0 Eastern Nazarene run pushed the hosts ahead by double-digits.
Eastern Nazarene proceeded to grow the lead throughout the third, but the Cadets refused to go away, continuing to whittle the Lions' lead down until the final buzzer.
Brewster led the Cadets with 17 points, while McGinn flirted with a double-double on 12 points and eight boards. O'Brien led Norwich on the glass, hauling down 12 caroms.
The Cadets will now return home for six-straight home games, with three coming up before Thanksgiving break. They will first host Vermont State University Castleton on Tuesday, November 11, for their home opener at 7:30, before battling Vermont State University Johnson and Vermont State University Lyndon on Friday and Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., respectively.
